Wigan refund fans who witnessed Spurs massacre

Wigan’s shell-shocked players on Monday offered to refund supporters who travelled to London to watch their side being thrashed 9-1 by Tottenham.

The Latics crashed to the second worst defeat in Premier League history as they conceded eight second-half goals at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Defender Mario Melchiot admitted the result was embarrassing and, along with the rest of his team-mates, will pay away fans the cost of their tickets.

Melchiot told the club’s website, www.wiganlatics.co.uk: “We feel that as a group of players we badly let down our supporters yesterday, and this is a gesture we have to make and pay them back for their tremendous loyalty.

“There is not a lot else to say, just that as a group of professionals we were embarrassed by the way we performed, we feel it was below our standards and this is something we feel we owe to the fans.

“Now we have to draw a line under the game, focus completely on training this week and bounce back on Saturday.

“We are professionals, we will take it on the chin and move on but it’s important that we do not take our supporters for granted.”

Wigan return to action when they host Sunderland this weekend and the club’s owner, Dave Whelan, has insisted that manager Roberto Martinez’s job is safe, despite the humiliation at Spurs.

“9-1 is a serious, serious defeat and we have got to get our heads up and I am sure Roberto will be working on the lads now to get them going again and get their heads back in the air and get some pride back in Wigan Athletic,” Whelan said.

“He is Wigan’s manager and I have complete faith in him and I know the supporters have.

“I am absolutely 100 percent behind Roberto, he’s a great manager and he will pull this team around.”